Grain loading device



Dec. 27, 1949 v. F. WALTERS I 2,492,341

GRAIN LOADING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EnnentorVERNON F Mu TERS (Ittomcg Dec. 27, 194 v. F. WALTERS efiAIN LOADINGDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, @947 Bnnentor VERA/ONE MIME/25Gttorneg Patented Dec. 27, 1949 GRAIN LOADING DEVICE Vernon F. Walters,Denver, C010,, assignor to Howry-Berg Steel &' Iron Works, Denver,0010., a corporation of Colorado Application October 20, 1947, SerialNo. 780,858

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a grain loading device designed for elevatingand transporting grain from a stock pile to a truck, or from a truckinto a railway car, and for all-other uses where movement or elevationof bulk grain or similar granular or comminutedmaterial is desired.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a grain loader ofthis type which will be conveniently portable; which can be attached toa truck or towing vehicle so as to trail therebehind; which can bequickly and easily detached from a tow vehicle and elevated'to anydesired incline; and which will operate efficiently from aself-contained power unit.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved grain loader in thetraveling or towing position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detail section, taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar detail section, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of an upper,

back-supporting band used on the improved loading device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the improved grain loader in theoperating position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section through the loader, taken on theline 6-6, Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, detail view of an engine mounting employed onthe loader; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross-sections, taken on the lines 88 and 9-9, Fig. 7.

A portion of an automotive truck or other vehicle is indicated at II].The improved grain loader employs an elongated conveyor tube I I throughwhich a hollow conveyor shaft I2 extends. A screw conveyor I3 of theflat, continuous helix type extends throughout the length of the shaftI2. The shaft I2 and the conveyor I3 extend beyond one extremity of thetube II so as to be rotatably supported in a ball bearing carried in abearing plate I4 carried by arms I5 extending from the end of the tubeII. The latter extremity of the tube forms the intake for the conveyor.

v The discharge consists of a' discharge opening I6 formed in thecylindrical wall of the tube II adjacent its other extremity. At thelatter extremity of the tube the shaft I2 is supported in a concentricball bearing in a bearing plate H. The shaft extends beyond the bearingplate I! to carry a V-belt driven pulley I8.

The power to rotate the shaft I2 issupplied from a small, internalcombustion engine I9. The engine I9 is mounted on a platform 20. Theplatform is hinged upon two hinge hooks 2I which engage receivingopenings in a clamping band 22 which is clamped about thetube II bymeans of a suitable clamp bolt 23. The platform may be supported at anydesired angle by means of an adjustable brace 24 carried from a secondclamping band 25 which is also clamped about the tube I I by means of asuitable clamping bolt 26. The brace 24 contains a series of holes 21through which a supporting pin 28 may be passed to support the platformat any height. The power is transmitted from the engine I9 through anendless belt 29. The belt 29 extends from a drive pulley 30 around apair of idler guide pulleys 3|, thence around the driven pulley I8. Theidler pulleys are journalled on the extremities of a bent shaft 51welded to an arm 58 bolted to the bearing plate IT.

The tube II is supported on wheels 32. The wheels are carried on stubaxles 33 projecting from opposite extremities of an axle bar 34. AnA-frame is built upon the axle bar 34 and comprises two side members 35extending from opposite extremities of the axle bar 34 upwardly to ahinged mounting on a hinge bolt 36. The bolt 36 is carried in bolt ears3! projecting from a third tube clamp 38 which is fixedly clamped aboutthe tube I I between the engine I9 and the intake extremity of the tubeI I.

A hinge ear 39 arises from each extremity of the axle bar 34. A braceleg 40 is hingedly secured to each of the ears 39 by means of suitablebolts 4|. The brace legs 4|] approach each other at their freeextremities and are held in spaced relation by means of a cross bar 42.An axle bolt 43 extends between the extremities of the legs 40 andcarries a tubular roller 44 provided with terminal flanges 45. Thisroller rides along a pair of parallel track members 46 which extendbetween supporting clamp bands 41 secured to the tube II.

A flexible cable 48 extends from the cross bar 42 to a winch 49 whichcan be rotated from a hand crank 59. The crank 59 may be locked againstrotation by means of a ratchet latch 5I.

The intake extremity of the tube l I is provided with a pair of tongues52 by means of which it may be attached to a draw bar 53 on the towingtruck 10. When being transported, the roller 44 is allowed to movetoward the discharge extremity of the tube so that the wheels 32 willapproach the tube ll. At the extremity of. its travel the roller entersinto vhooked holding members 54 which prevent the tube from bouncingupwardly while traveling. The tonguemembers are then.

attached to the draw bar 53 and the entire device is towed behind thetruck I!) in a substantially level position.

When desired for elevatinggrain, it is detached from the truck I0 andthe intake extremity is.

dropped into the pile of grain. The discharge extremity is elevated tothe desired height bywithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

Means for portably supporting a conveyor tube at an adjustable angle,comprising: an axle member; wheels supporting the extremities of saidaxle member; a side frame member mounted on each extremity of saidaxlemember and being inclined toward each other to a-common apex;

a hinge bolt extending through said apex transversally of said tube; afirst tube clamp surrounding said tube and hingedly mounting said hingebolt; a hinge ear arising from each extremity of said axle member; abrace leg hingedly secured to each hinge ear, said brace legsapproaching each. other aththeirnfree extremities; a. cross barmaintainingssaidilatter'. extremities'in spaced relation; a shaftextending between said latter extremities below said tube; a tubularroller rotatably mounted on said shaft; terminal "fianges on theextremities of said roller; a pair of parallel roller tracks extendingalong said tube in contact. with. said roller between said terminalflanges; a .tube clamp at each extremity of said tracks holding thelatter to said tube; a cable reel mounted on said side frame members;and

a cable-extending from said reel to said cross bar for drawing saidbrace legs toward said side frame members for elevatingsaid tube.

VERNON F. WALTERS.

REFERENCES"- CITED The following reierences-areof record in. the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 635,809 Richardson Oct. 31, 1899676,504 Kassel June 18, 1901 891,140 Brown et al. H June 16, 19081,114,425 Adams Oct. 20, 1914 1,543,778 Knowlton. June 30, 19251,989,537 Wentz Jan.. 29, 1935 2,395,410 Kaesler Feb. 26, 1946 2,425,681Lewis et al Aug. 12, 1947 2,460,661 Tintes Feb. 1, 1949

